What is Quantum Spin? Understanding Basics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of quantum spin, exploring its definition, implications, and the differences between classical and quantum interpretations. Participants seek to clarify their understanding of spin in the context of quantum mechanics, including its mathematical representation and physical significance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the concept of quantum spin and requests clarification.
  • Another participant points out that the term "spin" in quantum mechanics does not correspond to the classical idea of rotation and suggests thinking of it as an intrinsic property of particles.
  • A participant explains that spin relates to the representation of the rotation group for momentum eigenstates, noting complexities for massless particles.
  • Discussion includes the distinction between orbital angular momentum and intrinsic angular momentum, with intrinsic angular momentum being referred to as "spin" for elementary particles.
  • Another participant describes how to understand spin mathematically by applying a boost to a system's frame where the net momentum is zero, emphasizing the intrinsic nature of spin for point-like particles.
  • One participant acknowledges their understanding after the explanations provided by others.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of understanding and confusion regarding quantum spin, with no consensus reached on a singular definition or explanation. The discussion remains exploratory, with multiple interpretations and clarifications presented.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the need for a solid mathematical background to fully grasp the concepts discussed, indicating that the explanations may not cover all necessary details for a complete understanding.

Quantum Velocity
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Hey guy! Can you guy pleas tell me what is quantum spin?
I read and watch many stuff but i still don't understand it.
Thanks for help!
 
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how it spin and what is 1/2 spin
 
Your question is too open-ended. Without some hint of what you don't understand, we'll probably end up repeating what you read and watched.
 
actually i not really understand what i read and watch too
 
Spin defines the representation of the rotation group for single-particle momentum eigenstates for zero momentum (for massive particles). For massless particles it's a bit more complicated.
 
so it not actually spin
 
Quantum Velocity said:
so it not actually spin
For historical reasons, many English words mean something different when used in quantum mechanics. "Spin" is one of them, and here are a few more: observation, particle, wave, position.

The quantum mechanical property we call spin has little or nothing to do with the common-sense notion of an object rotating about its axis like a spinning top or the planet earth. You're better off thinking of it as just an intrinsic property of the particle, a number that shows up in the equations we use to calculate how the particle will behave (similar to the way the electric charge of a particle shows up in the equations we use to calculate how the particle behaves in a magnetic field). Unfortunately, and as the answer by @vanhees71 above suggests, there's no way of covering these equations in a B-level thread - the cost of admission is calculus and two or three years of serious college-level math after that.
 
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Well, do you know what angular momentum is? An object's angular momentum has two parts. One part is due to the motion of the center of mass around the origin (orbital angular momentum). And another part is intrinsic to the object. For a compound object, you can break down the intrinsic angular momentum into the angular momentum of the constituent parts around the center of mass of the object. For a rotating solid object, the constituent parts are moving around the center of mass, so each part has orbital angular momentum which contributes to the intrinsic angular momentum of the object. But each part can also have some intrinsic angular momentum, and so on. We eventually reach particles which have no constituent parts. These have intrinsic angular momentum which we call "spin".
 
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Take any physical system, with any number of constituent particles and apply a boost to the frame where the net momentum vanishes. The angular momentum in that frame is called spin. Such a frame may not always be physically attainable but the mathematical relation (that enables us to understand angular momentum in any other frame) is. If we think the physical system is a point-like particle (with no spatial extent) then we describe it as an intrinsic property, but the term "spin" derives from the classical way we think of angular momentum about the center of mass of a physical system.
 
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  • #11
wow thanks you guy now i understand it
 

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